“Even in the beginning stages the Emerald Donors team made me realize I am in excellent hands.” –Emerald Donor

Once a set of intended parents informs us that they want to work with you and you confirm you are happy to be their egg donor, you can expect the following steps to happen.

Process

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Paperwork

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You will receive a form to carefully read over, sign and send back to us. This form covers: consent to altruistically donating your eggs, the procedure, compensation, complication insurance as well as your and the intended parents rights. If you have any questions about this form an Emerald Donor team member is always there to assist. It is important that you understand and are comfortable with the agreement.

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Pre Screening

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Before the you start the process you will be required to do some pre screening tests. This may include; bloods, a scan with your gynecologist (costs covered by your Intended Parents) and a psychological evaluation. The requirements are determined by the clinic, the fertility specialist or the intended parents. We will guide you each step of the way.

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Pill Plan

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You will receive your pill plan, carefully compiled by our Fertility Specialist, indicating when to stop your active pill, when you will expect your period as well as when you will start the medication.

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Medication

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You will receive your medication instructions and dosages that have been worked out from the Fertility Specialist using the results from your blood tests. The medication used is a self-administered injection that is injected directly under the skin with a very thin needle into the abdominal wall. The medication is a combination of Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH). This protocol may be adjusted by the Fertility Specialist during the cycle depending on the response of the ovaries. Do not stress, we carefully explain and guide you step by step on how to administer the medication.

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Side Effects

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Firstly it is important to note that no long term side effects have been reported. Every donor and every cycle is different. The symptoms are very similar to your premenstrual symptoms. The most common symptoms include: Headaches / Mood Swings / Bloating / Hot Flushes / Breast Tenderness.A more serious side effect is Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS). The incidence of OHSS is 1-2% of all IVF Cases. OHSS essentially means that the body ‘over-responded’ to the FSH. Our donors are carefully monitored by the medical team with frequent blood draws and scans which greatly decreases this risk. If this is identified as a problem the Fertility Specialist will decrease the medication or stop the cycle all together.

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Day 7-8 Bloods

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On day 7 or 8 of medication, just before you leave for your destination, you will be required to go for an E2 + LH test. This is an easy blood tests and an important step used to monitor your response to the stimulation. From here your medication dosages may increase or decrease.

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Ovulation Prevention

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You may be instructed to start Cetrotide medication. This blocks the hormone (gonadotropin-releasing hormone-GnRH) that causes eggs to be released from the ovaries and is used to prevent premature ovulation.

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Scans

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Once at the destination you will be scanned by the Fertility Specialist every 1 to 3 days to monitor the development of the follicles. For the scan you will be required to remove your underwear and put on a robe. A probe about the size of a tampon application will be inserted vaginally to view the ovaries.

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Trigger

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When the Fertility Specialist has noted that the follicles have matured and are optimally stimulated you will be ready for the GnRH agonistor better known as the ‘trigger shot’. The Fertility Specialist will give you instruction on the exact time when to take the trigger shot. Timing of this final injection is a crucial part of the process. Your egg retrieval will occur 34-36 hours after this injection.

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Retrieval

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You will be given sedatives and/or anesthesia. The eggs will be removed from your ovaries in a minor surgical procedure called transvaginal ovarian aspiration. The ultrasound probe, the same or similar to the one used to scan, will be inserted into your vagina. A thin needle attached to the probe will be inserted into each follicle and using suction, the egg and liquid inside each follicle are removed. This process lasts about 15-20 minutes.

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Recovery

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After the procedure you will be taken to the clinic recovery where you will spend about 2 hours sleeping off the anesthesia, receiving intravenous fluid, be checked on by the medical staff and be given tea/coffee and a light meal. Thereafter you will be safely transported back to the hotel for further recovery. It is recommended you spend the day of retrieval in bed.

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Post Op Scan

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1 to 2 days after retrieval you will go for a post op scan in the form of an abdominal ultrasound. This is used to measure the ovaries, scan for any free fluid and generally ensure a good recovery. Once the Fertility Specialist has cleared you, you will be done with the process. Congratulations!